When a four-story hotel opened on Main Street in 2019, it certainly changed the landscape. It also signaled a new era for downtown Bryson City. Owners Mark and Sandi Fortner are continuing with the changes by making improvements both next door and across the street.
Next door at 240 Main Street, a building that stood empty for about a decade has seen significant improvement over the past year. While the exterior is complete, replumbing and electrical work still needs to be completed inside, according to Mr. Fortner. He is in discussion with a couple of potential business owners to open restaurants in the building. He anticipates something could open in the next six months or so.
Across the street, at Rosewood Inn on the River at 265 Main Street, demolition is set to begin soon. This historic, one-story motel is slated to come down. A motel has operated in the location since the mid-century. Years ago, it was called Miagene Motor Court.
The area will be transformed into a slate of riverfront retail spaces on the first story with residential spaces upstairs.
“It’s a work in progress,” Fortner said. “We won’t start construction yet; it could be in 2024 as far as starting that construction.”
The plan is for about six storefront spaces, with the hope of adding more shopping for tourists and locals.
“I’d like to see more for people to do,” Fortner said, adding that many visitors stay at Stonebrook Inn for three or four nights now but run out of local activities by the end of the second day. Often, he said, those visitors opt to travel over the mountains to the Tennessee side of the Smokies to shop and do other activities.
“This year at Rosewood Inn, it will be mostly planning and infrastructure,” Fortner said.